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Sharing my most festive holiday cake yet, the North Pole Cake. Three layers of buttery chocolate cake, layered with sweet chocolate ganache, and frosted generously with a browned butter vanilla frosting. Finish the cake off with a frosting dipped candy cane “north pole” and you’ll have the cutest holiday cake, that’s beyond delicious too.
{This post is sponsored by Land O’Lakes}
I couldn’t let December pass by without sharing a festive holiday cake that’s both cute and delicious. As you can tell by now, I really like to do it up with the Christmas recipes. I have so much fun playing around with whimsical desserts.
Enter the layer cake, one of my favorite recipes to date.
I had two goals for this cake.
First, make it good. Chocolatey on the inside, but with a nutty vanilla frosting on the outside.
Second, make the cake feel as though you’ve entered the North Pole. Meaning, create a winter wonderland cake that’s just as fun to make as it is to eat.
For the base of the cake I actually tried a few different recipes before landing on a more simple chocolate cake. I really wanted my cake to be moist, chocolate filled, and have hints of sweet Land O Lakes® Butter. There’s nothing worse than a dry cake, so I love using Land O Lakes® Butter to keep my cakes extra light, moist, and flavorful.
I baked my cake into three (6-inch) layer cakes. If you don’t own a 6-inch cake pan, you can also bake the cake in two (8-inch) cake layers. This works just as well, but you’ll have a shorter and wider cake, versus tall and skinny.
For the filling, I debated on whether to simply frost the entire cake with frosting or to add a chocolate filling. Since it’s December, and this is a Christmas cake, I went with the chocolate filling! When in doubt, always add more chocolate…
I made a lusciously smooth chocolate ganache with semi-sweet chocolate and a touch of cream to spread between the cake layers. When you look at the cake, you’d never guess there’s so much chocolate inside, but when you cut the first slice, you’re pleasantly surprised to find multiple layers of chocolate deliciousness. I love this little surprise hidden inside…so fun!
And then there’s the frosting.
Oh, this frosting, it’s become my new go-to. Browned butter, a touch of mascarpone cheese, powdered sugar, and a splash of vanilla.
Simple ingredients, but put them together and they make something incredibly delicious. This frosting is smooth, creamy, a little nutty from the browned butter, and perfectly sweet. Honestly, it doesn’t get any better.
It’s important for me to make recipes that not only look good, but taste just as delicious, if not better. And trust me, there’s so much to love about this cake. It is a chocolate lover’s dream cake. But it’s also very much a cake for anyone who loves vanilla.
To make the “North Pole” I just used a thick candy cane. I broke the rounded tip off, and then dipped it through a little of the frosting to make the top of the pole. I added some pearl sugar for a snowy effect, and pushed it directly into the top of the cake.
Nothing fancy, but so special and cute.
If you’d like to take the decorations a step further, you can make sugar cookie cut outs. I made reindeer sugar cookies. I sprinkled them with cinnamon sugar, and used a little melted white chocolate for their eyes and tail. It was important to me to keep the scene simple though, so that the cake would be the star.
If you’re looking for a fun Christmassy weekend project, or need a show stopping cake for your next holiday party, this is definitely that cake! I’ll be making it for my family’s Christmas Eve and I’m already so excited.
If you make this North Pole Cake please be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to also tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Watch the How To Video:
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
{This post is sponsored by Land O’Lakes. Thank you for supporting the brands that keep Half Baked Harvest cooking!}
Such an adorably festive cake!
Thank you!
In the blog you mention there’s mascarpone cheese in the frosting but it’s not written in the recipe? I loveee mascarpone in frosting so had to ask if it should be there or not!
Hi Sara! You need 2 ounces mascarpone cheese. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe. Thanks so much!! xTieghan ?
Such a sweet idea!
Rebecca | http://www.peppermintdolly.com
Thank you!
This looks amazing!! How long do you let butter sit out so it’s soft enough?
At least 1 hour, but sometimes longer is needed. I recommend leaving the butter out overnight. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe. Thanks so much!! xTieghan ?
So beautiful, Tiegan!
Thank you for sharing your talent. Thank you for such consistent posts over the years! I have followed you for years and look forward to each post of yours–always beautiful, artistic, delicious, and fun. 🙂
Hi Kelsi! This is so sweet! I am so glad you like this cake and other recipes on my blog! Thank you!
Very cute and looks absolutely delicious.
Thank you so much Joyce!
Wow. Just wow. Can not wait to debut this cake this Christmas! Pinned!
Yes! I hope you love this! Thank you Jess!
Looks like a great cake but you mention mascarpone in the frosting but it is not included in the recipe?
Hi Sharon! I will update the recipe. Thank you for letting me know! I hope you love this!
You mention mascarpone cheese in the text of your post but I don’t see it in the recipe!
Hi Robin! I will update the recipe. So sorry about that! I hope you love this cake!
HI! It is 2 ounces mascarpone. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe. Thanks so much!! xTieghan ?
In the comments above you mentioned you like to touch of mascarpone cheese, powdered sugar, and a splash of vanilla but I don’t see the madcapone Cheese listed in ingredients or in the directions. Then you for clarifying.
Hi Connie! I will add it in! Thank you for letting me know!
HI! It is 2 ounces mascarpone. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe. Thanks so much!! xTieghan ?
Beautiful! Also wondering how much mascarpone to put in the white frosting? I’d love to grab all the ingredients today and bake this weekend for company we have coming to town!
HI! It is 2 ounces mascarpone. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe. Thanks so much!! xTieghan ?
Is there supposed to be mascarpone in the frosting? It’s mentioned in the post but not in the recipe. Thanks!
HI! It is 2 ounces mascarpone. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe. Thanks so much!! xTieghan ?
A truly stunning edible winter wonderland!
Thank you so much Liz!
How much mascarpone cheese do you add to the frosting? In the description you mentioned adding “a hint” but the amount is not included in the ingredients. Looks decadently delicious! I can’t wait to make it! Thanks!
Hi Ann! It is 2 ounces. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe. Thanks so much!! xTieghan ?
Hi there,
This is Raushan from India and I am a baker also run an online cake shop. On this Christmas, I am gonna try your recipe in my kitchen. Thanks for sharing your ideas with us.
Merry Christmas in advance.
I hope this cake turns out amazing for you! Thank you so much!